I know I said that it would take a while to write this, but I sat down to write a bit one day and came up with this behemoth of a chapter. So I guess you guys are getting a chapter earlier than I planned to have it out. Well, you guys know the deal, please review and tell me what you guys think. I guess I have too much fun writing this story and that's why I keep writing more and more when I say I won't. So let's see what happens within the next couple of days. I hope you guys like it. Bye!

The home of Link and Zelda was peaceful, with the only sound being Daina running after Zelda, barking happily. Zelda walked out of the home and up the incline on the side of the home, sitting on the edge, with the little puppy following her close behind. She rested as the warm spring air hit her, giving her the perfect place to relax and read one of the books that Link had procured for her.

It was a beautiful morning, with the sun shining down onto the fields and valleys of Hyrule, with few clouds scattered in the sky. Link was out running errands and she was bored without him home, but she was happy to finally have some reading material. Daina jumped onto her lap, curled up, and began to rest. Zelda giggled at the happy puppy and pet her head as she read through her book.

This was a peace that she so desperately wanted. One that did not come with the pressure of an evil force with it. She was in a modest home, wearing modest clothing, living in a quaint and happy town, caring for the pet she's always wanted, having no cares in the world. It was so odd, but to her it was worth being stuck with an abomination for a century. She was finally happy. That much she could tell. Maybe asking for one year was not enough. Maybe she should just not return to being Princess Zelda. She was greatly happy just being regular Zelda. She could feel like she could live with Link forever.

"Hmm...Link…" She thought to herself. "Live...fore..." Her face flushed into a bright red blush. She pat her face to keep the thoughts out of her head and went back to her book, trying to distract her mind.

Sighing, she read through the book, a volume of essays from explorers of Hyrule. She was trying to learn more about the modern land that she now called home. The essays explained the many natural wonders of Hyrule and even the many dangers that they experienced in the wilds. Link had told her some stories about his adventures, which also covered many of the topics that she read through, but she was happy to hear from other scholarly folk.

She stopped reading when she heard the sounds of footsteps coming over the bridge to the house. She stood, placed Daina on the ground, and walked over to see a package courier making their way to the house, taking a package from their pack. One of her books mentioned how the modern Hyrule had developed a way of delivering packages throughout the expanse of the land since the Calamity. She wondered how many more innovations there could have been since the century had passed.

Walking to greet the courier, she waved at them, "Good morning!"

The courier smiled at her and waved back, "Good morning, miss! Hope you've been having a good day."

Zelda nodded, "I have. And yourself?"

"Can't complain. Though I can't say I've had the pleasure of meeting you before." He looked at the house's sign, "Oh! That's new. So, you live here now?"

"Yes, sir. I moved in recently."

"Well, welcome to Hateno Village. I hope it's been treating you well."

"Thank you! It has."

"I'm glad to hear it." He handed Zelda the package and said, "This is for Mr. Link."

Zelda took the package and asked, "Thank you! Any idea from where it came from?"

"It came from Gerudo Town. The Rito delivery service dropped it off this morning, so it was probably sent yesterday. I know Mr. Link is an adventurer, so I don't bother questioning how he has contacts there. Still, I keep hoping he'd give me a good word to his Gerudo friends."

Zelda laughed at that and said, "Looking for a nice Gerudo girl?"

"I can't help it. I find them stunning." He then asked, "I hope this isn't prying too much, but may I ask a question?"

"Of course! What's on your mind?"

"Would you happen to be Mr. Link's wife?"

Zelda quickly turned beet red and replied, "No...I'm not. We're just friends."

The courier noticed her face and apologized, "Oh! I'm sorry to have assumed. It's just that here it's a little odd for a man and woman to be living in the same house and not at least be in a relationship. Still, it was wrong of me to assume. I do apologize."

"It's okay. No harm was done. I can see why people would think that about us. I mean, we are living together and now are raising a dog together."

The courier gave her a smile and said, "I'd like to stay and chat, but I have a lot more deliveries to make. Please give Mr. Link my regards. Have a nice day!"

"Goodbye, sir!"

Zelda waved at him as he walked away and then sighed, trying to compose herself. She looked down at the package, wondering who in Gerudo Town could have sent him anything and for what reason. Then again, she had no knowledge of Link's associates or of most people in the modern age. She then felt something tugging at her and looked down to see Daina tugging at the hem of her dress' skirt.

She smiled and asked, "What's wrong, girl? Are you hungry?"

Daina let go of her skit and barked, wagging her tail.

Zelda giggled and turned to the house, "Then let's get you something to eat. If I remember, Dantz says that you can eat solid food. So let's get you something nice."

Daina barked happily and followed her as she walked back to the house. Zelda soon stopped as she felt something nearby and looked around. She saw nothing out of the ordinary, but she knew that there was something off. She looked over to the shrine and saw Link gliding down towards the house. He landed in front of her and put the glider away.

He smiled at her and said, "I'm home!"

Zelda smiled back, "Welcome back home! Where did you go?"

"Hunting."

Zelda arched an eyebrow, "You know that they sell meat at the store, right?"

"Yes, but this costs nothing and I love the taste of venison. I wanted to cook you a nice meal today."

Zelda said to him, "Go bathe and get the stench of blood off of you. I don't want that smell to fill the house."

Link rolled his eyes and replied, "Yes, maam." He noticed the package in her hand and asked, "Did the courier come by?"

Zelda nodded, "Yes. It came from Gerudo Town."

"Sweet! Riju probably sent me or you something."

"You'll open it once you bathe. Now go. I'll be feeding Daina while you scrub yourself clean."

Link chuckled to himself and went to do what he was told. Zelda, on the other hand, went on to mash leftover meat to feed Daina, as her teeth were not hardened enough to tear apart the meat.

A while after, Link was inspecting the package, with Zelda looking over his shoulder. He undid the twine around the package and opened it. First finding a letter, but this one was addressed to Zelda from Riju.

He handed it to her and said, "Hey, your first piece of mail."

Zelda took the letter, inspecting it. It appeared to be made of a valuable parchment and closed with a wax seal. She broke the seal and opened the letter, reading:

"Dear Princess Zelda,

Vasaaq (hello)! I hope all is well with you and your knight. May I say that I am pleased to hear of your freedom. I was overjoyed to hear of the great victory and your return.

I am Riju, Chief of the Gerudo. I grew up with the stories of Lady Urbosa and of the Great Calamity. I am aware of your close relationship with my predecessor and wonder if I would be so bold as to try to extend a similar friendship to you. Knowing Link, if he would go so far to save someone, you must be someone truly special to him.

I will try to keep this letter short for now and say that I wish to meet with you. I hope you would consider this invitation and come to Gerudo Village. As a vai (woman), there should be no issue with you visiting us and Link has become a master of entering our home. I have several stories about him that I know you would find hilarious. Please do consider visiting and we shall discuss whatever topics you wish to discuss, including any new alliance negotiation. I want us to have a positive working relationship. Until then, I eagerly await your visit.

Sincerely, Riju."

Zelda closed the letter and said, "Looks like we should visit the Gerudo after all. Riju wants to meet me."

Link replied, "Yeah, I figured. She likes meeting new people. However, be careful not to patronize her. She may be young, but she is really smart and mature for her age. She also sent you a gift. Nothing here was for me."

Zelda went over and reached into the box, pulling out an outfit. She inspected it and blushed at the content, "Is this Gerudo garb?"

"Yep!"

"She wants me to wear it?"

"Or just giving you the option to."

"Isn't it just a bit too revealing?"

Link chuckled and began to think to himself, with a goofy smile on his face.

This face was not lost on Zelda, who slapped his arm, "Are you imagining me wearing this!?"

"Of course I am! Can you blame me?"

"I...I...I don't know how to respond to that."

Link shrugged, "Look, you don't have to wear it if you don't want to. You can give it back to her."

"Absolutely not. Who returns a gift?"

"Then don't wear it." He stood and made for the second level of the house, "Anyways, I guess we should go see her tomorrow. Just another name to go see. Riju, the Gorons, the Rito, the Great Deku Tree…"

"The Great Deku Tree?" Zelda asked, remembering. "I completely forgot about him. We should have gone to him earlier. Now I feel as if I've been disrespectful in my conduct."

"Great! More traveling. So Riju or Great Deku Tree first?"

Zelda sat down at the table and thought, wondering which one would be best to visit. She then said, "I think we can visit both of them on the same day or we can visit Riju first. Since she actively invited me to visit her. So let's take tomorrow and visit Riju and then the next day we visit the Great Deku Tree. Then we'll plan something out for the Rito and the Goron."

"For the Gorons, I will have to get you fire protective gear. But we'll deal with that later." He stood from his seat, stretching, "For now, want to go for a walk or something? You've been here all day." He extended a hand for her to take.

Zelda looked at his hand and smiled before taking it, "I'd love to. It's a beautiful day to walk through town. Daina can also get some exercise as well."

Link smiled down at the little dog and led Zelda outside with Daina wobbling behind on her tiny feet. The pair and puppy made their way through the main street of the town, enjoying the warmth and sunlight. She held onto Link's arm as they walked and looked around at the residents also spending the day outside, happy to have such a beautiful day.

Zelda commented to Link, "I may have only been here for a short time, but I've really fallen in love with this town. I can definitely live here forever."

Link replied, "You're only here for a year."

"I know...umm...you know, I've been thinking...umm...why don't I just stay? I far more prefer being here with you and Daina than I ever did in Hyrule Castle. At least I'm happy here."

"You weren't happy in the castle?"

Zelda looked at him with her eyes donning a serious expression, "You were there. Try to guess why I wasn't happy."

Link looked at her eyes and sighed, "Yeah, I know. However, Impa is going to expect you to keep your word."

"I'm aware, but I really don't want to go back. I'm trying to come up with an idea on how to get out of it. I've been enjoying being free and living a modest life. It's just so far more enjoyable than being a princess. I'm beginning to despise being called Princess Zelda."

"No one here is calling you Princess Zelda."

"Because no one knows who I am and I want to keep it that way. People treat me like everyone else and are not giving me any form of special treatment. It makes me feel normal." She looked down at Daina, watching the puppy happily walking next to her. "Besides, I have more reasons to stay."

"Won't you like a home of your own, at least?"

"Why would I like my own house? I'm happy living with you." She suddenly turned bright red when she realized what she had said.

Link looked at her, asking, "What?"

"No...nothing...umm...I just like living here." She then reached down and picked up Daina, "I have a little dog now that I don't want to leave behind."

Link shook his head, laughing to himself, "Sure. Let's say that."

Zelda put Daina back on the ground and took Link's arm again. The two walked up the path and could see Dantz's ranch nearby. Daina sniffed the air and barked excitedly

Zelda looked down at her and said, "I think Daina wants to visit her family."

"I see nothing wrong with it. I'm sure she needs to play with some puppies as well."

The group made their way to the ranch, seeing Dantz feeding the cattle hay. He lifted his head and looked in the distance, seeing Link and Zelda walking over. When they were within earshot, he called out, "Hey there! It's nice to see you two again." He looked at the ground and saw Daina, "And it's nice to see that little one again."

Link greeted, "It's nice to see you to. We were just on a walk and our little puppy got excited as we got close."

"That I believe. She probably smells her mom and her siblings. You guys want to come in so she can play for a while?"

Zelda smiled, "That would be wonderful. She needs some playmates."

"Well, knock yourselves out. I wish I could join you, but duty calls. Enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you." Link led them into the pasture, looking for the dogs and their litter of puppies. They saw a few dogs, but no puppies.

Daina sniffed the air and barked, beginning to run in one direction. Link followed where she was going and saw her running towards where the sheep were kept. They followed and found her among a group of five other puppies and two adult dogs. Her parents sniffed her and her mother began to lick her.

Link led Zelda to a tree and the two sat down in the shade, watching Daina play around with her siblings, running around and pouncing on them.

Zelda said to Link, "She's absolutely adorable. I'm really happy you gifted her to me. The house is a lot more happy with her around."

Link lay himself down on the ground and replied, "The house is the same, you're the one that's truly happy and that makes me happy."

Zelda smiled down at him and asked, "I never asked you how you felt about this living arrangement. I just kinda roped you into it. How do you feel about it?"

"I like having you around. My journeys were very lonely, so it's great to have someone around. Besides, you're great company and it's been fun teaching you about the modern world and just talking to you. I actually have a reason to regularly come back to the house. Before you came, I would spend only a few days in the home and then be gone for a while. Then again, I didn't have much of a choice but to move around. I needed to save you, afterall. Now you're here and my house is starting to feel like a home. I can't remember that last time I had a true home."

Zelda smiled and looked back over to Daina, watching her play with her siblings, under her parents' watchful eyes. She lay down to join Link and asked, "Do you honestly not remember your family?"

Link closed his eyes to think, "I remember very little. I just remember that I had a mother and father and no siblings. My father was a knight of some sort and my mother was a regular townswoman of some place. I can't remember their faces, their names, or their voices. So I have no memory of any happy times or sad times. I kinda wish I knew who they were."

"I see. I'm sure it'll return to you." She thought for a moment and then asked, "Tell me, how did you get the house anyways?"

"Well, there's this guy called Bolson, who owns a construction company. I arrived in Hateno and I found him and his men beginning the process of tearing down the house. For some reason, I had an unknown compulsion to save it from destruction and offered to buy it from him. At first, he wanted fifty thousand rupees for it and I was willing for some reason to pay that amount. Seeing that I was serious about it, he lowered it to three thousand rupees and thirty planks of wood. I gave him that amount and the house became mine. I don't know why I did it. I was used to living in the wild, but I bought the house and paid for many additions. I don't regret it."

Zelda sat up and wondered something in her head, "So you felt compelled to buy it?"

"Yeah, for some reason."

"You don't think that it used to be your home, do you?"

Link opened his eyes and looked at her, "What?"

"I know that you and your family did not live in Castle Town, so you had to have lived in any of the towns. From what I remember about your father, he was a captain among the knights. My memory fails me on his features, but I do somewhat recall seeing the man before. I never met your mother, though, so I can't help you in that regard. Despite that, I have the sneaking suspicion that you felt compelled to buy the house because it was probably where you grew up."

Link sat up and looked in the distance, looking at the house in the distance. He took out the Sheikah Slate and used the camera to zoom closer to the home.

Zelda asked, "What's wrong?"

Link didn't reply and looked at the house, focusing intently to see if he could trigger a memory to materialize. He stood and looked over to the house, beginning to worry Zelda.

Zelda stood and said, "Something's wrong. What's going on?"

She then saw as Link dropped the Sheikah Slate onto the ground and doubled over in pain, holding his head.

Zelda went over to him and asked, "Link, what's going on?"

Link fell to his knees, groaning in immense pain. Zelda held onto him, trying to check on him, but he wasn't replying to any of her questions. He suddenly went limp in her arms, leaving Zelda to shake him, trying to wake him up.

[Link's Mind]

Everything Link could see was black, with no discernable figure in sight. He looked around and saw nothing different. A sharp pain struck his head and everything began to clear. He saw a different Hateno, one from a century prior. The homes were very uniform and the population was smaller. He looked in the distance and saw his home, looking as it did in the modern setting. Zelda had to have been right, if his mind was reacting to this information in such a way. With that thought, he sprinted down the road and towards the home.

He arrived and barged into the home, finding the home being modestly decorated, with simple supplies. He looked around and saw a woman at the counter, washing dishes. She was blonde like him, with her hair tied in a long braid. She put the plate she was washing down and looked at Link, giving him a loving smile.

She asked in a gentle voice, "Hello, Link! Tired of playing outside?"

Link looked at her with shock and awe, "Mom?"

The woman didn't reply and turned back to her work.

Link was left speechless and staggered back, feeling himself bumping against someone. He turned and saw a tall man that looked like him, but with a beard. He looked at the man with astonishment.

The man pat Link on the shoulder with a slight smile, "Easy there, son."

The woman appeared happy to see the man and said, "Jared! You're back so soon. I thought the king wanted you at the castle for the whole month."

Jared walked over to the woman and gave her a quick kiss before saying, "That's what I thought too, but he sent me home for a specific reason."

"A specific reason?"

"Yes. He wants me to take Link with me this time."

She looked at Link and asked, "He wants Link there? Why?"

"Well, he completed his training. So he wants him there as an official knight."

"That's great and all, but does that mean that I'll be by myself now?"

"Only for a while. Don't worry; it's not immediate at least. We'll leave for the castle in four days. I want to be home for a bit. I really miss being here. Sometimes I wish I would have stayed a town guard."

"Hey, it's alright. Your job now keeps us comfortable. I'm glad that the king relies on you so much and I'm glad that Link is finally getting what he dreamed of. Right, sweetie?"

Link didn't reply, still too shocked to say anything. He sat down at the table and looked at his father.

His dad said to Link, "You're going to be a knight. Aren't you excited?"

Link replied, "Dad, is this really you?"

His father then said, as if not hearing what he had said, "Glad to hear it. With any luck, you might even meet the princess."

His mom laughed, "Trying to set up your son with the princess?"

"I wish. At least he can gain some great connections by becoming her friend or something."

Link said to his father desperately, "Dad! Aren't you listening to me?"

His father got up and asked, "Is there any food left over for me?"

His mother replied, "There's some dried mutton that you can have. If I knew that you were coming, I would have saved you something more savory."

"That's okay. Food is food."

Link stood up and asked, "Are you guys not listening to me?"

His father said to him, "Relax, son. I know that you're excited to officially be knighted, but we can't just leave immediately. At least give me a few days to rest."

Link was extremely shocked. He figured that this was just a memory and that he had no influence over the events that were occuring. They were just replaying his memory of the day that he got the news that he was to be officially knighted. He looked at his mother and saw her speaking with his father and giggling. The memories he had with her and his father were flooding back into his mind and all he could feel was a deep sense of longing. Longing to be able to speak with them.

He saw his father go outside and then he saw his mother pull a book out of a nearby bookshelf and write into it for a minute and then stashed it behind other books. Link walked over to his mom and tried to get her attention by grabbing her hand, but his hand went through her's.

He called out, "Mom?"

He began to curse within his mind, hoping that the gods would let him speak with her. He felt as if there was something he desperately wanted to say to her, but he had to come to terms that his words would never reach her. He sat down at the table again, running his hands over his face, frustrated.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and saw his mom standing next to him, "I'm sure you're so excited to finally be a knight. Don't worry about me here. I'll be alright. I want you to go out and be the knight you've always wanted to be. I'm proud of you." She pulled him into a hug. He could feel this and the feeling made tears begin to swell in his eyes. The warmth he felt and the motherly affection behind the hug struck his heart bitterly. He then heard her say, "I just want you to promise me something. Promise me that you'll return home safe and sound. I want you to be happy and to follow your dreams, but...if the worst does happen...I don't want to lose my only baby. I just want you to come back home."

He was silent for a moment, but then said, "I promised...and I didn't keep that promise. I'm sorry."

She smiled and looked at him, "I'm glad you promised. Just remember that momma loves you." She kissed his forehead and turned to go complete some other chore.

His father walked back into the house and called out, "Daina, want to go for a walk? The day's lovely."

His mother turned and replied, "I'd love to! Want to join us, Link?"

Link didn't reply as his head was filled with the name 'Daina'. That's where he got it from. He had always had at least one memory of his mother, but now it all came together. He looked at his mother leaving her apron on the table and began to walk over to his father.

Link called out, "Mom? Mom? Mom!" He saw the scene before him begin to fade away. He blinked and his vision focused on what he thought was a ceiling. He looked around and found himself back in his house. He looked to his side and saw Zelda sitting next to his bed dabbing a rag into a bowl of cold water. She went to place it on his head, but stopped when she saw him looking at her.

She sighed in relief and said, "Thank Hylia! You're awake." She looked at him and stopped in surprise before saying, "You're crying."

Link wiped his face and noticed that tears were falling from his eyes. He sat up, causing Zelda to put the bowl down and try to push him back down, "Don't try getting up. You suddenly collapsed at the ranch."

Link groaned and asked, "How long was I out?"

"Only two hours. Dantz helped me carry you back here. A doctor came and said that all you needed was to rest. Are you alright?"

Link sighed and said, "I...I remember...everything."

Zelda arched an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

"I remember everything. You were right. This was my house when I was growing up. I was born in this house, I grew up here, and I left here to become a knight. It all came flooding back. My brain couldn't take it and knocked me out to keep me from feeling the pain of it forcing the memories back."

Zelda smiled, "This is actually good. You remember your family and your past."

"My family?" He sat up and stopped Zelda from pushing him back down, "I remember them. I named our dog after my mom. Man, I'm pathetic."

"Wait, your mother was named Daina?"

"Yes. I also remembered my mom being one of the most important people in my life. I loved my mom...and I left her here...all alone...for her to wait for my father and I...but we never came back. Sure, we came back during off days, but the week before I pulled the Master Sword from its post...was the last time I ever saw her. I immediately became your knight and a Champion. The king tasked me to never leave your side. Then the Great Calamity happened and...I never got to see her again." He sank his face into his hand and asked, "How long was she alone? How long did she wait for news of me?"

Zelda sat on his bed and asked, "Link?"

"I knew it was stupid to leave her alone, but me wanting to be a knight so bad made me leave her alone. It must have been torture, waiting for news. Dad died defending the castle, but she would have had no way of knowing. She must have thought that I died. I can't imagine her pain."

Zelda suddenly hugged him and said, "Link...it's okay. Calm down. I feel so bad for reminding you."

Link took a moment to relax and held on closely to Zelda. After a moment, he let go of Zelda and suddenly thought of something, "Wait...when I bought the house...there was still some furniture that was never taken out...that must mean...wait…"

Zelda looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

Link jumped out of the bed and dashed down the stairs. He looked around and found the bookshelf. He threw the books in the front off and found a worn leather bound book in the back. He pulled it out and wiped the thick layer of dust off of it. He undid the binding and opened the book. He read the first few entries and realized that it was his mother's diary. He skipped a few pages and looked around for the date he remembered that he left home on. He found the date and read outloud:

"Today my son and husband left for the castle. I'm excited for Link, I really am. His dream is finally becoming a reality and I could not be more proud as a mother. Though, my heart fears one day receiving news that something happened to him. I just pray to Hylia that he returns home one day and that he returns the way I sent him, that being in one piece. Please Link, just return to me someday."

He skipped ahead to a few days after the Calamity and read:

"My heart bleeds with bitter pain. It hurts...it hurts so terribly. The Calamity has returned and the Sheikah returned my husband to me...at least his corpse so that I could bury him. Oh how I wailed in anguish to see his mangled body. The love of my life is gone and my prayers have fallen silent upon the goddess' ear. However, where is my son? Where is my precious baby? The Sheikah tell me that he's still alive and simply running away with Princess Zelda. I pray that they are telling me the truth, but I don't know what to believe anymore.

I have to hold onto hope. Hope that he will return. It may not bring my heart back from the pain of losing my love, but I do not wish to feel the pain of losing my darling son. Please, Hylia, don't forsake me. Bring him home. I beg you."

He moved on to the next entry:

"The soldiers, the Sheikah, and the men of the town battled the corrupted forces of Calamity Ganon today. They secured victory, but at the cost of many of their lives. My husband will be buried with the dead husbands of many other women in the town. I'm not the only one with tears to shed. Despite the safety of the town, I cannot be calm until I hear news about Link. Still no word, but I am assured time and time again by the Sheikah that he's still alive. Why is my heart doubting?"

He noticed another entry on the same page:

"The Calamity was sealed away today, but it cost us the sacrifice of our princess. The report that she was alone when she sealed away the abomination was what reached me. Where is my son? He never left her side, so why was she alone? Where is he? I do not want to give into despair and assume the demise of my son. Until I get proof of his demise, I will wait for him. He's all I have left. I can't lose him too."

He flipped to the next page and read:

"In my wait, I have forgotten about this diary. It has been over a year since I last wrote an entry and I cannot say that anything has changed. Link has yet to return and I continue to wait. The Sheikah no longer come by and everyone has begun to move on with their lives. It is too dangerous to travel the roads right now, but I need to find my son. I received no word about him, so until I know what has become of him, I will await his return or go out into the wilds and attempt to find him. I don't know what to do."

He flipped through several pages and came to the last entry:

"It has been five years since I last wrote an entry. I wish things had been better since my last entry. It has been almost a score since the Great Calamity struck our land. It has been two decades since I last saw my husband and son. Often, I come to accept that Link is almost absolutely gone, but for my own sanity, I cannot give up on seeing him again. I traveled for five years, trying to find him, but my body could no longer take the effort. I had to return to Hateno for my own health. The doctors here informed me of the state of my health. A mast had grown in my stomach and it is spreading faster than the doctors can treat. Soon, I will be gone...failing to even find the remains of my son, if there are any left to find. No! I have to keep believing that he's out here and that he knows where his home is. I may be gone soon, but I wish to leave him the house, so that he can always have a home. The only gift I can give him. The only comfort I have is that I will soon be with my husband, wherever it is that he is.

Link, if you ever return home, and if you find this, just know that I love you. You were the greatest gift I've ever received from the goddess. Wherever you have been, I hope you were happy and safe. Maybe even married with your own family. There was so much I wish I could have shared with you and so many tales to share with you, but that will have to wait for whenever we see each other again, in wherever Hylia deems our souls to meet. I love you, forever."

Link flipped through the remaining pages, but found them blank. He closed the diary and tried hard to hold in his sadness and his grief, as he remembered being taught to do.

He felt a hand on his arm and turned to see Zelda, standing them, tears streaming from her eyes. The sight of her crying caused his own tears to fall, but he didn't show his pain.

She said to him, "Link, it's okay to grieve. Don't make the mistake I made when I was a child. I stayed stoic and held in the pain when my mother died. It did not go well for me. So don't hold in that sadness. It's only going to hurt more the longer it festers."

She held her arms open, if he needed some comfort. Link stayed still for a moment before accepting the embrace. In her embrace, he began to weep bitterly, letting out as much pain as he could.

Zelda said to him, "I'm sorry for making you remember. I shouldn't have, if I had known it would have hurt you so much."

"No, it's okay. There was no chance I would have seen her again anyways. I was asleep for an entire century. There was no way she would be alive. I just wish she didn't suffer through any of that time. I wish she would have died peacefully with loved one around her, not by some disease. My disappearance consumed her. In the end, I couldn't keep my promise...I ruined her."

"No. You didn't. Calamity Ganon did. This was all out of your control." She ended the embrace and held his face, "Don't you ever blame yourself. You did what you could. You kept your promise. You came back home, even if she's not here. You still returned and kept the house. Her final gift to you. You turned it into your own home and filled it with myself and Daina."

"But there's so much I want to tell her. There's so much I want to say. I didn't even get to say goodbye."

"Unfortunately, that's sometimes the unfortunate reality. We don't always get to say goodbye. We don't always get to say what we want to say. I remember that it was one of the most painful things about losing my own mother. She just suddenly died and I never got to see her before she passed on. I didn't know about her death, until Urbosa sat me down and broke the news to me. I'm like you. I had a mother that I loved dearly and I lost her without saying goodbye. It's a miserable pain. Though, you do have something to help you get through this."

"What?"

"Someone to lean on. Me. Don't ever feel ashamed to let your tears fall around me. I'm here for you."

Link gave her a faint smile, "Likewise."

He pulled her into another hug and the two stayed that way until Link relaxed. Zelda held him tight, feeling his breathing slowly return to normal, ending his silent sobs.

He sighed and said, "I must look so pathetic."

"Not at all. You never got the chance to grieve. Let it all out with no fear of judgement. No one should feel ashamed about grieving for their parents."

Link could only give her a slight smile and went back to his grief; his tears flowing down his cheek and dropping onto the ground and some unwittingly on Zelda's dress. Zelda didn't mind and held onto him, giving him as much comfort as she could.

[Elsewhere In Hyrule]

The sun was setting across Hyrule and soon everything would be blanketed in a cover of darkness. Along the roads, guards began their rounds near settlements and stables. Ever since the fall of Calamity Ganon, the roads were a lot safer at night, but that didn't mean that all dangers were gone. At least no one had to worry about monster skeletons rising from their graves to attack them or keese flying around nipping at them.

On the road, Paya walked, her feet killing her from her journey. Impa warned her that it would take a few days to get there by foot. She looked around and noticed a stable in the distance. From Impa's instructions, she was to stop only at the stables if she needed to buy supplies or sleep. Impa did not want her sleeping out in the elements.

She walked towards the stable, letting her mind wander as she journeyed. She was finally out of Kakariko Village for the first time in her life. Hyrule was an interesting place, even the stories that Impa had told her did not do the beauty of nature justice.

The wind in the valley picked her up and her hair covered her face. She tucked her hair back, with the memories of what she had done hitting her head once more. To prepare for the journey, she had let her hair down and dyed it pitch black, with even Impa braiding it to help conceal her identity further. Even the Sheikah emblem that she always drew on her face was gone. She couldn't even recognize herself and that scared her. Even her Sheikah garb was gone. She had to wear standard Hyrulian travel clothing on her. Impa has also packed a good number of clothes and supplies in the pack on her back and it was beginning to hurt her back.

She soon arrived at the stable, putting her pack on the ground, giving her back and shoulders a break.

The stable attendant said to her, "Welcome, miss! How can I help you?"

Paya looked at the attendant and held her hands to her face, trying to hide behind then, "He...hello! Umm...I...I...wish to stay here for...umm...the night."

"It's okay, miss. No need to be nervous. You're safe here with us and the stable guards. We have some beds available. Only twenty rupees."

Paya nodded and handed him one red rupee, "Will this do?"

The attendant took it and handed her a slip, "Yes, this will cover it. This is for us to know that you rented the bed. Keep it with it. Thank you for staying with us. Please feel free to explore before dinner."

"Th...thank you!" Paya said, trying to steal her nerves. She grabbed her things and walked outside to where the cooking fire was at. She sat by it and sighed, as she finally had rest for her aching feet. Her stomach growled, causing her to blush in embarrassment. Reaching into her bag, she took out a rice ball and quickly ate it trying to quiet her stomach until dinner at the stable was finally available.

After her small snack, she looked around to see who was around her. There were a few people at the stable, mostly just the staff and some random travelers. She noticed a woman sitting across from her, wearing a black cloak, but with the hood down so she could see the woman's long black hair, which was tied at the end with a red ribbon. She also wore black trousers, a red corset-like chestplate, and worn long boots. However, what caught Paya's attention were the two long swords that were at her hips.

The woman looked at Paya, noticing her staring and gave her a smile, "Don't worry; I'm perfectly safe."

Paya jumped at the realization that she was staring at her and began to apologize, "I...I'm so sorry. I did...not mean to stare. I was just curious."

"It's okay. No need to be afraid. No harm done. I get the same reaction from other people on the road. People aren't used to seeing foreign warriors too much, I would guess. Much less one like me."

"Where did you come from?" Paya asked, curiously.

"I come from far to the east. I'm here in Hyrule to complete a special task. By the way, my name is Saya. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"My name? Oh! It's...um...Paya."

"That's a pretty name."

"Thank you."

Saya stretched for a moment and said, "It's nice to finally speak to someone. The road can be very lonely from time to time. So, what's your story? What's making you travel?"

"Me? Oh! I'm going to go visit a friend in a village that's not too far away. It's only a few days' journey. I've been travelling for a day now. What about you?"

"I'm here because my squad and I are looking for someone."

Paya was curious and asked, "Someone? If I may ask, who?"

"I don't know if I should be telling you, but what harm can come from it? Are you familiar with the name Princess Zelda?"

This gave Paya pause. She remembered that the man that visited her home a few days back, called Aris, she believed. She knew that he was travelling with a group of warriors and that they were looking for Link and Zelda. Playing ignorant, she asked, "Princess Zelda? As in the ancient princess?"

"Yes. Calamity Ganon is gone and we suspect that she is free and actively traversing the land as we speak. Where? I do not know. It's my job to go find her."

"What do you need with Princess Zelda?"

"We just need her help. I'm not at liberty to explain exactly why, but we mean her no harm."

"I see. Well, I wish I could help you, but this is the first time I've heard of this." She lied, wanting to not appear as inconspicuous as possible. She knew that if she let it slip that she knew Link and Zelda, or that she was a Sheikah, Saya might not be as friendly as she was being at the moment.

Saya stood and dusted herself off, "I wish I could stay and chat, but I need to tend to my horse. Still, I'm sure we'll see each other around. It was nice meeting you, Paya."

"Oh! Umm...likewise. Take care."

"Take care."

Paya watched her walk away, wondering what she should do. She knew that her time was limited and that she needed to get to Hateno before Saya could find Link and Zelda. However, it would appear that she didn't know Link's name, but she knew Zelda's. Hateno was still a day or two of walking, so there was no way she was going to arrive there before someone who was mounted on a horse. She would have to rely on Link and Zelda travelling around or not being present when Saya arrived there. Then again, she didn't know in which direction she was heading. Cursing her luck, her mind raced, trying to come up with an idea. Though, she knew that the only thing she could do was move at the pace she was going and hoping Link and Zelda weren't home by the time Saya arrived.

She whispered to herself, "This just got so much harder."

[Later That Night]

The stable was completely quiet for the night. All those within it and the animal outside were sleeping, resting from the day's journey. In her bed, Paya lay awake, sprawled on her bed and looking around the sleeping area, to where Saya was comfortably sleeping. She did not know how to feel about her. As far as she could tell, Saya was being genuinely friendly with her, but was it a front? Does her group have any ulterior motive for Princess Zelda and Link? Could she be wrong? Why was this so hard to figure out in her head?

Sighing, she closed her eyes and attempted to go to sleep. Despite this, she wondered why her grandmother wanted her to do this? Sure, she's a Sheikah, but she is an unproven one that had never left the safety of her home. Now she was out in the wild, away from all that was familiar to her. Was she afraid? No, she could feel that she was not afraid. Perhaps nervous was a more apt way to describe her feelings.

Paya pushed these thoughts aside and tried to sleep. In the morning, she would have to move as fast as her feet could carry her without exhausting the energy she had. Her mission depended on getting to Link and Zelda in time.

[Hateno Village]

Link and Zelda's home was also as quiet, with both Link and Zelda resting on their beds. Link had fallen asleep a while ago, having tired himself out from all the grieving he had done that day. Zelda, however, remained awake, looking at Link as he slept. She felt so guilty for having made him remember his past and causing him so much emotional pain.

She sat up, rubbing her face as she cursed her actions, but...at least he could remember now. Also, she was happy to have helped him relax and compose himself. Perhaps he would not be too sad tomorrow, so that they could go visit the Gerudo. She would understand if he was not up for it.

Silently groaning, she stood, covering herself in a bedsheet, and quietly walked downstairs. She walked towards the door, but stopped when she noticed the Sheikah Slate on the dining room table. She went over and took it, figuring she might get bored and would like to read some of the entries. With that, she turned and walked out of the house. She made her way to the side of the home and sat on the same edge where she saw Link train the other day. There, she hoped to find some silence and tranquility in the cool night's air to lull her to sleep.

The night was still and the moon hung high in the sky. Nights like this reminded her of the time she spent with Urbosa. Of all the champions, she was the closest one to her and she considered Urbosa her second mother. They would spend entire nights speaking in the open air of Gerudo Town's palace, wasting the minutes away with various subjects. At times like this, she wished she still had her around, at least for her great advice. Urbosa always had a way with words and with her wisdom, which always helped Zelda through tough times. Now she was gone and there was no one around for her to see counsel from.

Resigned to her position, Zelda leaned back and looked out at the dark fields of Hyrule. In the distance, there were some lights from road posts and some homes. Despite that, everything was silent and covered in night's shadows, with the glow of the moon offering some illumination.

Zelda pulled up the Sheikah Slate and looked through it, finding the inventory page. She skimmed through the items that Link had stored there and stopped when she found the harp he had played for her the other night. She would be lying to herself if she said that she was not curious, at least a little. With a simple press of a button, the harp materialized in her hands. She put the Sheikah Slate down and inspected the harp. It was a beautiful harp, but she had never played an instrument in her life; that she could remember at least.

Tentatively, she plucked one of the strings, releasing the sound from the instrument. More confidently, she plucked another strong, receiving a different sound in return. With a couple more plucks, she began to strum the strings and pluck them together, releasing more and more pleasant sounds from the instruments. This surprised her, because she had no knowledge of the instrument in her hand, but it felt like her body was reacting to it as if she had played it all of her life, but she did not understand why.

She looked down at the instrument in her hands and felt compelled to play one more song. Her hand moved down and strum the strings before plucking a few notes, which repeated in a song that felt very familiar, but she had no clue where she had heard it before. She felt herself getting lost in the music, as if she was in a trance. Her arms moved on their own, creating the song. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in the song. After a minute of playing, she began to hear double the sound, as if someone was playing alongside her in a duet of the song.

Zelda opened her eyes and turned her head, expecting to see Link next to her, but stopped in shock when she saw a beautiful woman with long golden hair and a long white gown, playing on an ornate harp. On her head a line of precious gems, which she figured was a crown. What struck her most surprising was the woman's striking resemblance to her own appearance, but she appeared more mature in appearance. She had her eyes closed as she played and stopped when she noticed that Zelda had stopped.

The woman opened her eyes and looked at Zelda, giving her a warm smile. Zelda shuffled back and asked, "Who are you?"

The woman gave a little laugh at the sigh and said, "Don't be afraid, Zelda. I'm not a danger. Why would I harm someone I care about dearly."

Zelda was confused and asked, "What do you mean? I've never met you before."

"Yes, you have. Though, mostly just in your dreams."

"My dreams?"

"You played the Ballad of the Goddess and thus I came to see you."

"Ballad of the Goddess?"

"A song that was passed down to the first Zelda. My first vessel."

Zelda looked at her, not understanding, "First Zelda?"

The woman explained, "Throughout the ages, there have been an untold number of Zeldas. Each one during a time of great peril. Those Zeldas receive a portion of the spirit of the goddess, thus linking each one to one another. The fact that you played the song with no knowledge of it, means that you were channeling the first Zelda. The only one to not take up the moniker of "princess". It was through the union of her and the first Link that your line exists today."

"The first Link?"

"Your connection to the hero is no coincidence. Every Zelda to have existed during a major conflict has been connected with a warrior who has inherited the spirit of the hero. Evil is destroyed when both the hero and the princess work together. This happened with you as well. With the aid of the hero, you two managed to destroy Calamity Ganon. It is fate, in a sense. How does the saying go again? "Whether skyward bound, adrift in time, or steeped in the glowing embers of twilight…?" For each one of those, you and the hero have been connected. Led through the awakened winds, pictured through the many worlds, carried on the shoulders of divided strength, or journeyed through the lands of large and small."

Zelda considered everything she had said, surprised by the information, but she knew about the need of a princess and a hero to defeat evil. However, she had to ask, "Still, why are you here?"

"You played the song and I came. Mostly out of my only curiosity."

"I guess I should have asked again; who are you?"

The woman giggled and stood, "I'll let you take a wild guess. One hint that I will give is that I have existed throughout all of the ages and have seen all of the victories and defeats that have plagued this land. I am known by most here and they have taken my name in reverence. I live in all hero Zeldas and I am all hero Zeldas...to an extent."

Zelda took the information in, her mind racing to understand and had to admit, "I don't know."

The woman turned and took a few steps forward, until she turned around and said, "I'll reveal it to you when I leave. Just know that this is not the first time you and I have met. Do you recall a dream you had all those years ago? A woman you encountered, who you could not hear? Now that you have awoken to your gifts, you are finally able to hear me."

Zelda's eyes grew wide when she heard this, remembering the dream she once had, "Wait! You're that woman?"

"Yes. I can only contact you through dreams. The Ballad of the Goddess summoned me here today. I can't stay long, so let me give you some advice. Don't let yourself be tied down. Don't do things because people are expecting you to do so. Do things because you want to. I wish some Zeldas knew to live freely. I can only think of two that were free to do what their hearts wanted them to do and I think they were the happiest. I want you to be happy." She looked out at the distance and said, "My time is running out. I must go. If you wish to speak to me again, play the song before you sleep. I cannot deny you. You are I and I am you."

"But who are you?"

The woman giggled again and Zelda looked on as two brilliant white wings appeared on her back and lifted her into the sky, "You can call me...Hylia. Now wake up. Your hero is waiting for you."

Before Zelda could reply, her vision faded and then suddenly came back. It was now morning and she was once more on her bed. She sat up and looked around, finding only Daina resting next to her, nuzzling up to her. Zelda rubbed her eyes, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Was all of that a dream? Did she never leave the house?

She heard footsteps and watched as Link walked up the steps and stopped to look at her. He smiled and said, "Good morning!"

Zelda replied, "Good morning! How are you feeling today?

"I'm a lot better. Don't worry too much about me." He then paused and asked, "What happened to you last night?"

Zelda paused and asked, "What do you mean?"

"I woke up last night because I felt like something was out of place. Next thing I know, I see that you're not in bed or in the house. I found you outside, sleeping at the side of the house with my harp in your hands. You were out cold, so I carried you back to bed. Do me a favor, just ask when you want to use the harp and, please, no more night time exits without letting me know. I was worried sick."

Zelda was left speechless and rubbed her temple, trying to take everything in. Was it or was it not a dream? She sighed, deciding that it was pointless to worry about it right now.

Link said to her, "Breakfast is ready whenever you want to eat. No rush, but I want to get to Gerudo Town before it gets too hot there."

Link turned and walked back downstairs, leaving Zelda to stand and make her bed, her head racing to make sense of everything.

Not too important of a chapter, I just wanted to do some work on the characterizations of our main characters. Next chapter, I expect to make it a lot more exciting. So look out for that chapter when I post it. When? No idea. Still, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I will see you all later. Bye!